Recoil apparatus for guns.



No. 724,335. PATENTED MAR. 31,.1903.

E. K. ROTHE.

REGOIL APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED OdT. 1. 1902. NO MODEL.

Nrrnn grates ERNST KARL ROTHE, OF EISENACH, GERMANY.

RECOIL APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No.

724,335, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed October 1, 1902. Serial No. 125.553- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ERNST KARL RoTHE,'engineer, asubject of the GrandDuke of Saxoeimar, residing at Eisenach, in the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin or Relating to Recoil Apparatus for Guns, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to recoil apparatus for guns in which thegun-barrel recoils and is returned to its normal position by a spring.

The invention has for its object to so arrange the recoil-spring as toenable the same to be fitted in or removed Without necessitating theremoval or displacement ofthe brake-cylinder.

A further advantage of the construction consists in the tension device,which serves also as the front abutment for the spring, re maining onthe brake-cylinder after fitting in the spring and surrounding thecylinder, so as to avoid any reduction of the length of stroke.

In the accompanying drawings one form of carrying out the invention isillustrated by way of example. Figure lshows the gun-barrel in firingposition resting upon the upper part of the carriage or therecoil-spring casing, the spring being fitted in and held under therequired tension by the tension -screw. the same parts, the spring beingreleased. Fig. 3 shows the tension-screw in detail.

The device is especially destined for use with guns having a closed to aprojection of the gun-barrel e and surrounded by the well-known recoilspring or springs c. The connection is'asmay be seen from Fig. 1, ofsuch kind asto enable the cylso I gun-is reduced in diameter and isprovided with an external screw-thread f, the length of the reducedscrew-threaded portion corresponding with the amount of compression tobe given preliminarily to the spring by means of the cylindricaltension-nut or screwed tube g, provided internally with a screw-threadadapted to cooperate with the threadf. The external diameter of thetension device g is equal to the diameter of the rear (smooth) portionof the brake-cylinder, so that after the ,ension device has been screwedhome on the cylinder the latter has a quite even uninterrupted surfaceof the same diameter. The tension device 9, as may be seen from Fig. 3,is formed at one end with a spring-collar 2', against the inner side ofwhich rests a second loose collar q, against which the spring presses.The other abutting surface for the spring is constituted by a diskj orequivalent, fixed to the upper part of the carriage or spring-casing a.The collar 11 is provided with hbles 7a to receive pins or projectionsof screw device is turned or kept in position; The rear p." rt of thebrake-cylinder is squared at m to receive another handle or crank 92.When the spring is to be removed, first the piston-rod o is disconnectedfrom the front plate p of the casing. The platep is represented in Fig.2 as hinged to the casing. The

connection may, however, be of any desired kind. After turning down theplate 10 the crank-handle Z is applied to the collar 2' and a secondhandle a is fitted upon the squared Now either of the two handles may beturned while the other is maintained sta tiouary or both handles may beturned simultaneously in opposite directions. This causes the spring tobe relieved, Fig. 2. After the screw-nut has been entirely screwed outthe spring can be removed from the cylinder. It is an important featureof the invention that the spring can be removed without disturbing thebrake-cylinder, while in the constructions hitherto used the cylinderhad generally to be removed previously. the spring receives again therequired we liminary tension by screwing the collar t' to its endposition, Fig. 1. The end of the brakecylinder 1) is flush with the foreend of the casing, or it may project slightly beyond the cylinder, aconsequence 0 spring,

latter, so as\to enable the cylinder to be lifted a little upon fittingin the screw should the front end of the cylinder have sunk slightly.The increased thickness of the walls of the f the above describedformation of the same, may be compensated by means of longitudinalgrooves.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidnvention and in what manner the same is to e performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. In a recoil apparatus for guns means torfacilitating the fitting and removal of the recoil-spring comprising acylindrical tension nut ortubo such as 9 preferably provided at itsouter end with a collar and adapted to be screwed upon the fore part ofthe brake-cylinder provided for this purpose with screwthreads over alength corresponding with the amount of compression to be given to thethe external diameter of the screwnut being equal to that of thediameter of the smooth portion of brake-cylinder so that the cylinder iscompleted by the screw; when the latter is in its normal end position.

2. In recoil apparatus-tor gu'n's; the com'bination of a gun-carrragefagun having a prol l 1 l i l l jection thereon a brake-cylinder attachedto said projection, the forward end of said brakecylinder being ofdecreased diameter and provided with screw threads; a tension devicearranged to screw upon the screw-threads of said cylinder, said tensiondevice being of the same diameter as brake-cylinder; an external collaron said tension device; a spring surrounding said brake-cylind hearingat 'one end against the collar on said tension device; a springcasing,surrounding said spring, attached to the gun carriage; a collar arrangedwithin said spring-casing, against which the other end of said springbears; a stationary pistonrod extending through said brake-cylinder; ahinged door or cap upon one end of said spring-casing; and means forlocking said door or cap to said piston-rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit nesses.

ERNST KARL ROTHE.

W'itnesses:

- DIAXIMILIAN BLUHM,

ERNST HAMMLER.

the large portion of said

